sharing good news!!

ArchTB said:

Are you taking PET scans?
This is great news! Congratulations!
Have you been doing PET scans after the surgery? It is more precise than CT. Not to discourage you in any sense, but we had poor diagnosis through CAT scans, which completely missed cancer developments in Tom's lymph nodes. We now always insist on PET.

Olya

only CAT scans
Hi Olya,
I just get CAT scans, my drs will not do a PET scan unless my CAT scan shows something. It is a problem here to get insurance companies here in Maryland to give an Ok for a PET scan without proof of something significant like overt symptoms, bad blood test etc. My friend has Stage IV lung cancer and is in remission and they are refusing to do a PET scan on her with her CAT scan because she is being maintained on Tarceva and has no proof of cancer recurring. I will have to say PET scans did not work very well on my cancer. When first diagnosed, my 4 cm tumor did not show up, neither did my 2 positive lymph nodes but I had false positives all over the place, one involving getting a colonoscopy before I started chemo and radiation. So for me, it doesn't worry me since the Pet scan did not show the cancer that was there. But I am sad to hear that your husbands lymph node involvement was missed. Thank you for that information. I will bring it up with my drs. take care,
Donna70

mrsbotch said:

Thank God for good scans
Yeh Donna. Every 6 months is wonderful

Barb

thanks for sharing my happiness!!
Just wanted to say thank you all for sharing my happiness. I know how much it mattered to me to hear survivors come on and say how long they had been having clean scans. Mr. Marshall was my first person to cheer me on. And like Kim says we don't take good news for granted. Today for many of us, our hearts are with Sherri and Jim's family. We all loved Jim and Sherri and hoped so much for a better ending for their story. Sherri has posted so much helpful information and gave us so much help thru all their months. Jim inspired us all, going to work with his chemo pack on, going even when he was under hospice care and just by the joyous way they chose to deal with everything to do with EC even when the ending cannot be what you hoped for. So thank you all for your happiness for me and I know you all will keep Sherrie and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Jim is at peace but his family will need so much now during this time. take care,
Donna70

linda1120 said:

Congratulations!
Dear Donna,

I am so very happy for you! I know the last year plus has been a real fight for you, but you have done it. I too am keeping Sherri and their family in my prayers as they deal with losing Jim. I am sure Sherri is so pleased for your clear catscan. My husband's doctors have ordered catscans every three months as well. Ours comes up April 22nd. I feel like I am holding my breath...

Linda

Linda we all hold our breaths
Hi Linda,
Just wanted to address an important fact that we as patients and you as a caregiver face. People do not understand that every scan is a little scary or sometimes big time scary if you have been having symptoms you fear maybe the cancer coming back. We understand it is natural but "regular" people always act like, "Well no worries for you anymore". I don't live my life worrying, I am busy living my life, but every cancer patient has that "if the other shoe drops feeling". So I just want to say as a loving wife of your hubby you will hold your breath when the next scan comes up, then he will move on like me and get them every six months and then every year. But there is always the prayers and hopes that this next scan will not show something. We understand and you can tell us the scan is coming up and ask our prayers and good thoughts and tell us when you get the results. Thanks again for all the responses to my good news and also sharing our sorrow at the loss of Jim. take care,
Donna70